Update

We are pleased that todays CT scan didn't show anything in Mark's hip area. We are hoping that the first test was a false positive. Its like you hear of false postives but never think we could be that lucky. Maybe we are. So back to UCLA Monday to see what our oncologist thinks. For now still on hold not on transplant list. We will see what Ucla has to say.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Monday

UCLA went well. The oncologist there said it would be very rare for M's type of cancer to spread to the hip area. And said there could be a chance that the Octreotide Scan (that should a tumor or cancels of some sort in the hip) could be wrong. He ordered a CT Scan of the Hip and Abodomen area. Once we get those results we are to come back to see him. Lastly we did speak with our Liver transplant coordinator and she put Mark on a "hold" status on the tranplant list until all of this stuff is completely worked out and the doctor's have decided what is going on. Will keep ya posted !
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

This Week

Here is this week. Meet with UCLA oncology honchos (Lisa's word I found funny and true) on Monday/tomorrow. So we are hoping Dr Hecht can shed some light. Or maybe he will know what we do with this info from last week's scan result. Or maybe he will know how we deal with UNOS. Or maybe (haha) you see lots of maybes! Maybe no one has a clue and we are going to have to wait and redo the scan! Ooooh also I had remembered earlier today that the UCLA radiologist found the tumor on Mark's pancreas when the Facey radiologist could not find it SOOOO maybe the UCLA radiologist will be able to see something or know something about this spot that is showing up in Mark's hip area. So this could lead us in a new hopefully better direction with the UCLA experts!
So Monday UCLA oncology. Tuesday ultrasound per our Facey oncologist. Dats' it for now.

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Update

hi all, so our latest Octreotide Scan showed a spot in my hip area. of course we are concerned that the cancer has spread from the liver. we have been told by ucla and unos that if it did spread beyond liver we would no longer be a candidate for a liver transplant. so with that said our two oncologists are teaming up to meet with us to do additional tests, possible biopsy, and beyond that we don't know anything. we are at the we don't know whats going on stage of this whole thing. we have an appt with Facey oncologist Thursday at 2p and then Monday at 2p also, with our UCLA oncologist. at this point we only know what the radiologist found on the scan. once we learn what the oncologist's recommend we will let you all know. never a dull moment for the Andrews' Family. stay tuned... love, Mark, Jenna and Jonathan...

Posting from Jenna signed in as Mark (again)

clearly cant remember my log in password...
anyhow... we are still her. on the list at a 25 (i think ok that is bad yes we go to a 27 in November). so we are way up on the list. rolling the pager (which i told Mark pagers are so lame and like so 1991 so he can't let it be visible...only like doctors and Lisa carry pagers these days :) all kidding aside he is dragging that lil ticking time bomb around with him. so surreal really.
we are ready for another round of massive labs and scans. yuk. no fun. and some crazy heart attack and lung test. oh yes we love tests NOT!!! but we are having a great summer. and besides the cancer and impending liver transplant ... we really can't complain... ;)
mark did some changes to his pain meds and really started feeling good again. it was like boom he got sorted out. and he seems happier lately, which i savor. we need him happy and comfy...its my goal in life!
thanks for reading and caring ...

love,
Jenna

Steve Jobs

Did you all know Steve Jobs owner of Apple has what Mark has.... And just had his liver transplant. Just wanted everyone who has read about this or heard on the new, that this is exactly what Mark has.

New News

So ucla got word from unos as of today mark's meld score has been raised to a 25. They are doing transplants when your points are 25 to 27 so this means we are actively waiting for a transplant. i told Mark i'd rather just freeze time like it is right now. Too scary! Transplant surgery to major, recovery is months and rejection is always a possibility soooooo cant we jut freeze time like it is right now? Pleeeeeeeaase i asked. I guess thats not how things work. So we will move forward to the next step of all of this, and maybe we really are infact seeing the light at the end of this nightmare......